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England dominate Games gymnastics

Steve Jancetic

The gymnastics program in Glasgow finished much like it began - with England's unofficial anthem Jerusalem reverberating around The Hydro and the Australians looking off the pace.

After nine artistic golds in Delhi four years ago, Australia gymnasts head home from Glasgow without one gold to their name - four silver medals their only reward after Lauren Mitchell (floor) and Mary-Anne Monckton (beam) on Friday joined Larissa Miller and the women's team in securing podium placings.

England took over from Australia, stamping themselves as the dominant force in Commonwealth gymnastics, thanks largely to the exploits of 16-year-old phenomenon Claudia Fragapane, who on Friday collected her fourth gold medal.

That gave England a total of nine golds, five silver and five bronze medals, but women's coach Peggy Liddick was adamant Australia won't be down for long.

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"You can't stay on top forever ... but we're not disappearing off the face of the planet," Liddick said.

"We'll get back there. The next generation is coming through.

"Next year, 2015, 2016, we have a few hotshots that are turning 16 - they have to be 16 before they can compete at this level - we've got some 14 and 15 year-olds back home that will be our Claudia next year."

Australian gymnastic fans can only hope that's the case after pocket rocket Fragapane put on another scintillating display on the floor final to deny Mitchell gold.

"She's got the whole package, she's good," Liddick said.

"It will be interesting to see how she stacks up against the Russians and the Americans."

Added Mitchell, who was marked down for stepping out of bounds: "Claudia's routine was amazing and 0.8 in front of mine, so I don't think I could have got gold even if I stayed on the floor and did everything - she was just incredible."

Ironically Fragapane's golden haul is the same one Mitchell achieved in Delhi.

Mitchell wasn't altogether upset, having come back from a shoulder surgery which had threatened her career.

"If anyone would have said 12 months ago you'd be here, I would have said, `nah, let's just get my arm to vertical and see how we go (getting) to that first.

"To actually make it is pretty special."

Mitchell said the competition had whet her appetite ahead the world championships in October, and Liddick was keen for her to go on to the Rio Olympics.

But there appears to be more to this team than just Mitchell, after 19-year-old Monckton produced a brilliant routine to take silver in the beam final behind Canada's Elsbeth Black.

Earlier Canadian Scott Morgan won his second gold of the Games with victory in the vault final, Scot Daniel Purvis won gold on the parallel bars before England's Nile Wilson finished proceedings with gold on the bar.